Blueberry plant named &#39;ZF08-070&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZFO8-070’ is a multi-purpose commercial variety intended for the fresh or processed fruit markets. The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘Legacy’ (female parent) by ‘Draper’ (male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103). The variety has excellent plant vigor, an upright plant habit, ripens fruit mid-season, and produces a large berries with uniform size and light blue color. ‘ZFO8-070’ was selected for its upright habit, consistent berry size, cold hardiness, and vigor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/285,377 filed on Oct. 27, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

Latin name of the family, genus, and species: Family—Ericaceae Genus—Vaccinium Species—corymbosum.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘ZFO8-070’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) plant, referred to as ‘ZFO8-070’, as herein described and illustrated. The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZFO8-070’ is a multi-purpose commercial variety intended for the fresh or processed fruit markets. The variety has excellent plant vigor, an upright plant habit, ripens fruit mid-season, and produces a large berries with uniform size and light blue color. ‘ZFO8-070’ was selected for its upright habit, consistent berry size, cold hardiness, and vigor. The mid-season blueberry cultivar ‘Bluecrop’ has historically dominated the Pacific Northwest growing region due to its consistently high fruit yields, but ‘Bluecrop’ acreage is being gradually replaced with newer cultivars such as ‘Draper’ that possess better fruit quality. ‘Draper’ produces a fruit which is more firm than ‘Bluecrop’ and also has more uniform fruit coloration. However, ‘Draper’ plants are not as vigorous, disease tolerant, or adaptable to cold climates and heavy soils as ‘Bluecrop’. Thus, there is a need in the Pacific Northwest and other northern highbush blueberry growing regions for a variety that combines better fruit quality than ‘Bluecrop’ with better vigor and adaptability than ‘Draper’. ‘ZFO8-070’ possesses these qualities and may be of value to the commercial blueberry industry in the Pacific Northwest and other blueberry production regions where northern highbush blueberries are grown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘Legacy’ (female parent) by ‘Draper’ (male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103).

The cross that produced ‘ZFO8-070’ (denominated by the cross code ‘X04-044’) was made in Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2004.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZFO8-070’ was initially propagated by softwood cuttings in 2008. Rooted plants from these cuttings were field planted in Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2009 to establish a plot of nine plants for further observation. Additional plants have been propagated via softwood cuttings from the plants in Lowell, Oreg. to establish additional plantings in Washington, Oregon, and California, USA. The plants established in Oregon were successfully used to establish in vitro culture lines in 2011. Plants derived from the in vitro cultures were used to establish additional research plantings for observation and yield data collection in Washington and Oregon.

The seedling family that produced ‘ZFO8-070’ was initially grown in 50 cell propagation trays and field planted in 2005 at the Fall Creek research farm in Lowell, Oreg. ‘ZFO8-070’ was selected in 2008 because it had large yields of fruit, with good firmness, light blue color, large size, and good storage quality. After being selected in the seedling planting, ‘ZFO8-070’ was propagated by softwood cuttings and a nine plant plot was established in Lowell, Oreg. The nine plant plot was evaluated for plant performance, fruit quality and yield in comparison to the standard varieties ‘Draper’ and ‘Legacy’ beginning in April, 2011. Beginning in 2009, additional observational plots were established in commercial blueberry fields located near Lynden, Wash., Paterson, Wash., and Stockton, Calif., USA and Segovia, Spain. Additional observational plots using plants derived from tissue culture were also established in Washington and Oregon in 2014. After extensive evaluation throughout the Pacific Northwest and other blueberry growing regions, ‘ZFO8-070’ was determined to be consistently vigorous, tolerant of heavy soils, and tolerant of damaging winter minimum temperatures or poor adaptation to northern latitudes that caused yield losses in field trials with other northern highbush cultivars and selections.

The new blueberry plant ‘ZFO8-070’ is distinguished by an upright growth habit, excellent vigor, large leaves, reddish new wood, cylindrical corollas with a broad aperture, reddish purple or reddish yellow fall leaf color, and large fruit with a light blue color and a spheroid or slightly flattened shape. The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘ZFO8-070’ as a unique Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid plant:

-   -   1) Fruit that is globose or slightly oblate, light blue in         color, and uniformly large in size     -   2) Reddish colored new wood on one year old canes     -   3) Broad corollas that are typically cylindrical in form, with a         wide corolla aperture     -   4) Excellent plant vigor even on heavy soils     -   5) Balanced distribution of fruit buds and vegetative buds on         canes, resulting in a plant that is easy to prune and capable of         consistently producing uniformly large fruit     -   6) Large leaves with an acuminate tip and purple, red or yellow         fall color     -   7) Upright or erect plant growth habit     -   8) Large diameter canes with relatively few laterals and         relatively little branching     -   9) Loose clusters of fruit located on the outside of the plant,         facilitating harvest

Plants of ‘ZFO8-070’ propagated from softwood cuttings or in vitro are phenotypically stable and exhibit the same characteristics as the original plant. Plants of ‘ZFO8-070’ are phenotypically distinct from either of its parents, ‘Legacy’ and ‘Draper’. The parent ‘Legacy’ has a plant that is more branched and less upright in form. The leaves of ‘Legacy’ are slightly more narrow than ‘ZFO8-070’. Leaves of ‘Legacy’ are more flattened in profile than ‘ZFO8-070’, ‘ZFO8-070’ leaves are more undulate or revolute than ‘Legacy’. Plants of ‘Legacy’ also form fewer buds on one year old canes than plants of ‘ZFO8-070’. Compared to the parent ‘Draper’, plants of ‘ZFO8-070’ are more vigorous and taller in stature at maturity. Plants of ‘Draper’ have more numerous canes than ‘ZFO8-070’ and the canes of ‘Draper’ have a smaller average diameter than canes of ‘ZFO8-070’. ‘Draper’ fruit is more flattened (oblate) in shape than fruit of ‘ZFO8-070’. ‘Draper’ leaves also have a margin that is more undulate (wavy) than leaves of ‘ZF08-070’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the plant of the new variety in fall, showing the fall color and plant growth habit. The plants were grown in Lowell, Oreg., and photographed on Dec. 8, 2014.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of flowers of the new variety grown in Lowell, Oreg., and photographed on Apr. 12, 2013.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Nov. 21, 2014.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the fall color on leaves of the new variety grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Nov. 21, 2014.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of a cluster of fruit of the new variety grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Jul. 17, 2013.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the calyx side of fruit of the new variety grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Aug. 1, 2013.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of one year canes of the new variety, grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Nov. 7, 2012.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘ZFO8-070’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 4 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field located at 39252 Jasper-Lowell Rd, Lowell, Oreg. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in 2013 at the field described above. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Variety:     -   -   Classification.—a. Family — Ericaceae b. Genus —             Vaccinium c. Species — corymbosum d. Common Name — Northern             Highbush Blueberry.         -   Parentage.—a. Female Parent — ‘Legacy’ (unpatented) b. Male             Parent — ‘Draper’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103).         -   Market class.—: Fresh market or individual quick frozen             berries. -   Plant:     -   -   General.—a. Parentage — Female parent ‘Legacy’ (unpatented),             male parent Draper (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103). b. Plant             height — Average 1 meter c. Plant width — Average 1 meter d.             Growth habit — Upright, round e. Plant Vigor — Vigorous f.             Productivity— In Lowell, Oreg. on 2 year old plants 1.12 lbs             per plant, compared to Draper plants of the same age which             produced an average of 2.39 lbs per plant. On 3 year old             plants 4.25 lbs per plant, compared to Draper plants of the             same age, which produced an average of 4.54 lbs per plant.             On 4 year old plants 7.95 lbs per plant, compared to Draper             plants of the same age which produced an average of 4.29 lbs             per plant. g. Suitability for mechanical harvesting —             good h. Cold hardiness — Based on pedigree, approximately             USDA zone 4. Tested up to USDA zone 6. i. Chilling             requirement — Minimum of 1000 hours below 45 degrees             Fahrenheit. j. Leafing — good k. Twigginess — Low l.             Resistance/susceptibility to root rot (Phytopthora             cinnamomii— good tolerance to Phytopthora based on anecdotal             field observations and a controlled inoculation trial             performed at Oregon State University by John Yeo. m.             Resistance/susceptibility to stem blight (Botryosphaeria             sp.) — none noted n. Resistance/susceptibility to Phomopsis             Twig Blight (Phomopsis vaccinii) — none noted o.             Resistance/susceptibility to Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) —             good tolerance to Botrytis based on anecdotal field             observations p. Resistance/susceptibility to Leaf Spot             (Septoria spp.) — no susceptibility noted q.             Resistance/susceptibility to Leaf Rust (Naohidemyces             vaccinii) — good tolerance to Leaf Rust based on anectdotal             field observations. r. Resistance/susceptibility to bud             mites (Acalatus vaccinii) — none noted. -   Stem:     -   -   General.—a. Suckering tendency — Low b. Mature cane color —             Pantone colors Raw Umber 17-1422, Shell 13-1405 and Mineral             Red 17-1537 c. Mature cane length — Average 19 in d. Mature             cane width — Average 1.5 cm e. Bark texture — Rough f. Fall             color on new shoots — Pantone colors Red Earth 18-1444 and             Green Banana 14-0434 to Celery Green 13-0532 g. Surface             texture of new wood 13 Smooth h. Internode length on strong,             new shoots — Average 17.85 mm i. Average number of buds per             fruiting lateral — 7. -   Foliage:     -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst — In Lowell,             Oreg. late March to early April b. Leaf color (upper             surface) — a. Mature leaves Pantone Chive 19-0323. b. New             leaves Pantone Sierra 18-1239 and Deep Olive 18-0527 c. Leaf             color (lower surface)— Pantone color Epsom 17-0324 d. Leaf             arrangement — Alternate e. Leaf shape — Elliptic f. Leaf             margins — Entire g. Leaf venation — Pinnate h. Leaf apices —             Acute i. Leaf bases — Vary from rounded to acute j. Leaf             length — Average 60.03 mm k. Leaf width — Average 33.4 mm l.             Leaf length/width ratio — 1.80 (wide leaves) m. Leaf             nectaries — Absent n. Pubescence of upper side — Absent o.             Pubescence of lower side — Absent p. Cross sectional profile             — flat or slightly revolute q. Longitudinal profile —             slightly undulate r. Attitude — Ascending (acute) s. Fall             leaf color — Pantone Barn Red 18-1531, Pantone Catchup             18-1449, Pantone Burgundy 19-1617, Pantone Spectra Yellow             14-0957.         -   Petioles.—a. Length — Average 2.65 mm b. Width — Average             1.75 mm c. Color — Pantone color Green Olive 17-0535 d.             Surface texture — Smooth. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of flowering — Approximately             mid-April in Lowell, Oreg. b. Time of 50% anthesis —             Approximately late April in Lowell, Oreg. c. Flower shape —             Cylindrical to slightly urceolate d. Flower fragrance —             Faint, sweet e. Immature flower color — Pantone colors Holly             Berry 17-1633, Snow White 11-0602 and Mellow Green             12-0426 f. Pollen Staining — Approximately 95% viable             staining with 2% acetocarmine dye g. Self-compatibility —             Very good. Approximately 73% of self-pollinated flowers             reached maturity on self-compatibility pollination trials,             compared to 80% of flowers reached maturity when pollinated             with pollen of the variety ‘Liberty’.         -   Corolla.—a. Color — Pantone color Snow White 11-0602 b.             Length — Average 9.7 mm c. Width — Average 9.3 mm d.             Aperture width — Average 5.24 mm e. Anthocyanin coloration             of corolla at time of anthesis — Low f. Corolla ridges —             Present but not very distinct g. Protrusion of stigma —             Average −0.2mm below lip of corolla.         -   Inflorescence.—a. Length — variable, average of 54.91 mm b.             Diameter — variable, average of 19.35 mm c. Length of             peduncle — Variable, averaging 35.56 mm d. Surface texture             of peduncle — Smooth e. Color of peduncle — Pantone colors             Mellow Green 12-0426 and Mineral Red 17-1537 f. Length of             pedicel — Average 9.65 mm g. Surface texture of pedicel —             Smooth h. Color of pedicel — Pantone color Peridot             17-0336 i. Number of flowers per cluster — Average 10-13 j.             Flower cluster density — Moderate to high.         -   Calyx (with sepals).—a. Diameter — Average 5.8 mm b. Color             (sepals) — Pantone colors Peridot 17-0336 and Water Cress             17-0220 c. Calyx surface — Smooth.         -   Stamen.—a. Length — data not collected b. Number per flower             — 10 c. Filament color — data not collected.         -   Pistil.—a. Length — 8.18 mm b. Ovary color (exterior) —             Pantone color Peridot 17-0336 c. Style: Length — data not             collected.         -   Anther.—a. Length — 5.08 mm b. Number — 10 c. Color —             Pantone colors Adobe 17-1340 and Autumn Leaf 17-1347.         -   Pollen.—a. Abundance — Moderate b. Color — Pantone color             Pale Banana 12-0824. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—a. Time of fruit ripening — Approximately early             July through late July in Lowell, Oreg. b. Time of 50%             maturity — Approximately mid-July in Lowell, Oreg. c. Fruit             development period — Averages 17 days in Lowell, Oreg. d.             Mean harvest date — July 19 e. Mean date last pick — August             6 f. Cluster density — Moderate to high g. Berries per             cluster — Approximately 7-12 berries per cluster h. Unripe             fruit color — Pantone colors Oasis 16-0540 and Maroon             18-1619 i. Ripe berry color — Pantone colors Dapple Gray             16-3907 and Crown Blue 19-3926 j. Berry skin color after             polishing — Pantone color Shale 19-3903 k. Berry surface wax             abundance — Moderately abundant and moderately persistant l.             Berry flesh color — Pantone color Winter White 11-0507 m.             Berry weight — Average 2.5 g per berry, 5 year average from             2011-2015 compared to Draper fruit from plants of the same             age, which were an average size of 1.96 g n. Berry height             from calyx to scar — Average 13.54 mm o. Berry diameter —             Average 19.92 mm p. Calyx aperture — Average 5.38 mm q.             Calyx depth — Average 1.83 mm r. Pedicel length — Average             10.42 mm s. Pedicel surface texture — Smooth t. Berry             detachment force — Easy u. Berry shape — Oblate to round v.             Fruit stem scar — Small and dry. Average diameter of 1.41             mm w. Berry flavor — Balanced x. Sweetness when ripe —             Moderate to high y. Firmness when ripe — Moderately firm z.             Acidity when ripe — Low aa. Storage quality — very good bb.             Usesb — fresh market fruit production, machine harvest             individual quick frozen fruit production. -   Seed:     -   -   General.—a. Seed abundance in fruit — Average 30 seeds per             berry b. Seed color — Panton color Carob Brown 18-1229 c.             Seed dry weight — Approximately 0.5 mg per seed d. Seed             length — Average 1.51 mm. -   Comparison between parental and commercial cultivars:

State of State of Denomination Characteristic expression of expression of of similar for similar candidate variety variety comparison variety (ZF08-070) Legacy Fruit size 1.86 g (Large) 2.50 g (Very Large) Draper Fruit Size 1.96 g (Large) 2.50 g (Very Large) Draper Evergreen/leaf Fully deciduous Partly evergreen persistence in fall in Lowell, OR in Lowell, OR Draper Plant vigor Low to medium High Legacy Leaf margin: Plane (flat) Undulate (wavy) profile Draper Fruit shape Oblate Slightly oblate 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘ZFO8-070’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 